Introduction
The Sanskrit alphabet contains 51 sounds: 25 consonants, 16 vowels, and 9 semivowels, plus क्ष kṣa, which is essentially a conjunction of the letters ka and ṣa.
All sounds originate from the primal sound AUM or OM. This sound is also called Tara Bīja or Dharma Bīja. “In the beginning was the Word…” — according to the Vedic tradition, in the beginning there was also a word, and that word is AUM or OM (ॐ).
Tārā Bīja (from Tarini – to cross, to pass) means it is the Bīja by which we can cross the ocean of Samsara:
- A represents Rajas Guṇa
- U represents Sattva Guṇa
- M represents Tamas Guṇa
The mantra ॐ has three Ṛṣis (seers who realized and transmitted ॐ):
- Gautama for A (Rajas Guṇa)
- Atri for U (Sattva Guṇa)
- Bharadvāja for M (Tamas Guṇa)
AUM consists of five parts: a + u + m + Bindu + Nāda. These five components are distributed over both Grahas (planets) and Devatās (deities):
- All vowels are ruled by Sūrya (the Sun), and the Devatā of the complete Varga is Sādāśiva.
- Brahma rules the Vargas ka and ca, i.e., the Vargas of Mars and Venus.
- Viṣṇu is the Devatā for ta and ṭa Varga, which are ruled by Jupiter and Mercury.
- Śiva is the Devatā of pa and ya Varga, ruled by Saturn and Chandra (Moon).
- Rudra is the Devatā of ṣa Varga, ruled by Chandra (Moon).
Sounds
The vowels are ruled by the Sun:
| अ a | इ i | उ u | ऋ ṛ | ऌ ḷ |
| आ ā | ई ī | ऊ ū | ॠ ṝ | ॡ ḹ |
| ए e | ऐ ai | ओ o | औ au | अं aṁ |
The other consonants are ruled by the remaining Grahas (planets), not counting the Nodes.
Mars
क ka, ख kha, ग ga, घ gha, ङ ṅa
Venus
च ca, छ cha, ज ja, झ jha, ञ ña
Mercury
ट ṭa, ठ ṭha, ड ḍa, ढ ḍha, ण ṇa
Jupiter
त ta, थ tha, द da, ध dha, न na
Saturn
प pa, फ pha, ब ba, भ bha, म ma
Moon
य ya, र ra, अः aḥ, व va, श śa
Moon
ष ṣa, क्ष kṣa, ल la, स sa, ह ha
अ (A) – Brahmā – ka i ca Varga
क ka (Sṛṣti)
Creation, birth, the act of creating, beginning of the world
ख kha (Vṛddhi)
Growth, increase, elevation, improvement
ग ga (Smṛti)
Memory, records, the entire institution of Sacred Tradition or what is remembered by teachers (different from Śruti). Includes direct teachings or revelations from Rishis. Broadly includes the six Vedangas, Manu’s Code, Itihasa (including Mahabharata and Ramayana), Puranas, and Niti Shastra. Also covers laws transmitted by traditions (e.g., Manu and 16 subsequent lawmakers: Atri, Vishnu, Harita, Usanas/Shukra, Angiras, Yama, Apastamba, Samvarta, Katyayana, Brihaspati, Parashara, Vyasa, Sankha, Likhita, Daksha, and Gautama; all inspired and taught according to their Vedic teachers).
घ gha (Medhā)
Mental strength, intelligence, wisdom, discernment, personification of intellect
ङ ṅa (Kānti)
Desire, longing, love, beauty, brilliance
च ca (Lakṣmī)
Sign, mark, wealth, love, charm, radiance. Name of the Goddess of fortune and beauty (often identified with Śrī), consort of Vishnu or Narayana. Emerged with other precious things from the ocean foam when Devas and Rakshasas churned it seeking Amrita. Appeared holding a lotus, hence also called Padma
छ cha (Dhṛti)
To hold, attach, preserve, support; steadiness, constancy. Personification of satisfaction or determination, daughter of Daksha and consort of Dharma
ज ja (Sthitrā)
Stability, firmness
झ jha (Sthiti)
Standing firm, upright, not falling. Continuation of existence (second of three states of all created things – first is Utpatti or origin, third is Laya or complete dissolution)
ञ ña (Siddhi)
Completion, accomplishment, full attainment, success, establishment
उ – Viṣṇu – ṭa and ta Varga
ट ṭa (Jarā)
Old age, aging, growing old (personification of the daughter of Death, Yama)
ठ ṭha (Pālini)
To protect, guard, preserve
ड ḍa (Sānti)
Peace, calmness, serenity of mind, absence of desire, removal of suffering (as in AUM Shanti, Shanti, Shanti – removal of three types of suffering: of the soul, mind, and body)
ढ ḍha (Iśvara)
The capable one, Lord, Supreme Being, Supreme Soul, ruler of the auspicious Northeast direction, one of the ten guardians of directions
ण ṇa (Rati)
Pleasure, enjoyment, delight, tenderness, love enjoyment, sexual desire, romantic pleasure (personified as one of the two consorts of Kama Deva, along with Priti)
त ta (Kāmāik)
Desire, longing, passion for love, enjoyment; embodiment of Love (son of Dharma and consort of Rati)
थ tha (Varadā)
One who grants wishes, confirms beneficence, ready to fulfill a request or answer a prayer
द da (Ahlādini)
That which causes joy or delight
ध dha (Pṛti)
Battle, competition, effort
न na (Dīṛhā)
Long-lasting, enduring, steady, persistent, or continuous.
बिन्दु (bindu) – Rudra –
ष ṣa (Pīta)
Yellow, imbibed, absorbed, taken in
क्ष kṣa (Sveta)
White
ल la (Aruṇā)
Dark red, dark yellow (color of dawn, opposite of night darkness), sunrise; personification of the charioteer of Surya, the Sun God
स sa (Asita)
Detachment, renunciation
ह ha (Anantā)
Infinite, eternal, boundless; name of Śeṣa Naga (the serpent deity)
नाद (nāda) – Sādāśiva – अक्षर (akṣara)
अ a (Nivṛtti)
Return, going back, reduction of activity in the world, inactivity, rest, mental peace
इ i (Sapratiṣthā)
Within the dwelling, internal presence
उ u (Vidyā)
Knowledge, science, learning, philosophy
ऋ ṛ (Shānti)
Peace, calmness, serenity of mind, absence of desire, removal of suffering (AUM Shanti, Shanti, Shanti – removal of three types of suffering: soul, mind, and body)
ऌ ḷ (Sūkṣmā)
All-pervading spirit, supreme
आ ā (Recikā)
Emptied, cleansed, abandoned
ई ī (Mocikā)
Causes liberation
ऊ ū (Parā)
Distant, far away, opposite, very old
ॠ ṝ (Indhikā)
To radiate, shine
ए e (Sukṣmāmṛtā)
That which contains the nectar of fertile earth
ऐ ai (Jnānāmṛtā)
Nectar of knowledge
ओ o (Apyāyinī)
Causes well-being and growth
औ au (Vyāpinī)
(One with the sky) To reach, pervade, cover, spread around, fill
अं aṁ (Anantā)
Infinite, eternal, boundless; name of Śeṣa Naga (the serpent deity)
ॐ कृष्ण गुरु
om kṛṣṇa guru